Combined ramrod, gun-rest, and bayonet.



Y No. 7|6,l58. Patented Dec. I6, I902.

J. WHEE ER. COMBINED RAMROD, GUN BEST, AND BAYONETJ (Ap lication filed Fab. 11, 1902) I UNITED S ATES ATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH WHEELER, OF WHEELER, ALABAMA.

COMBINED RAMBO-D, GUN-REST, AND BAYONET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,158, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed February 11,1902. Serial No. 93,486. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known thatI, JOSEPH WHEELER, a resident of Wheeler, Lawrence county, Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvementin a Combined Ramrod, Gun-Rest, and Bayonet, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to firearms, and more particularly togun-rests and bayonets.

In modern military practice the tendency is to depart from the offhand style of shooting heretofore in vogue and have the gunner take more deliberate aim, either from a recumbent or a kneeling position, and it is very desirable in such cases to provide the gun with a convenient rest. Moreover, while engagements at close quartersare now of rare occurrence, nevertheless the moral effect of the bayonet is still recognized by militaryexperts.

The object of the present invention is to provide a single implement in the form of a ramrod or cleaning-rod which shall be so combined with the gun that it may be used at will either as a gun-rest or a bayonet, the rest being capable of adjustment to suit either the recumbent or the kneeling position of the gunner.

With these objects in View the invention consistain a rod divided into two sections of unequal length detachably attached to the gun underneath and parallel to the barrel, preferably with the shorter section extending toward the muzzle and the longer portion toward the stock. Each section is so jointed to the gun or to the other section that it is capable of being turned down at right angles to the gun-barrel and preferablyhas its lower end pointed, so as to stick into or secure a hold on the ground when it is used as a gun-rest. The longer section when lying parallel with the barrel withits pointed end forward projects beyond the muzzle of the barrel a proper distance to enable it to serve as a bayonet, suitable means being provided to securely retain it in this position. When detached from the gun, the two united sections form an efficieut ramrod.

The inventive idea involved may receive various mechanical expressions, and for the purpose of illustrating the invention I have shown one of these in the accompanying drawings; but the scope of the invention is not to .be understood to be confined to the specific construction shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing therod in the position which it occupies on the gun when not in use. the rod detached and on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rod detached, but folded, as when used as a bayonet. Fig. 4c is a cross-sectional detail showing the clamp or band securing the rod to the gun and the rod in the bayonet position. Figs. 5 and 6 are details showing the construction of the two sections of the rod and one manner of uniting said sections.

Referring to the drawings, the rod is formed in two sections 1 and 2, each of which is capable of occupying a position parallel with the barrel and of being let down into a position at right angles to the gun-barrel, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, means also being provided for so uniting the two sections 1 and 2 as to form a continuous straight rod. Any suitable means for uniting the two sections to each other and for attaching them to the gun so they may be let down as gun-rests may be employed. The means which I prefer aud which are herein illustrated consist of a knuckle-joint hinge securing the two sections 1 and 2 together and a clasp on the gunbarrel engaging the rod to hold it in position under the barrel. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a very suitable joint for the purpose, 4 and 5 being ears formed on the lower side of section 1, and 6 being a corresponding car on section 2, and a hinge-pin 7, passing through these cars, forms the usual knuckle-joint. Depressions S are cut in the ear 6, and a springpressed catch 9 in section 1 is so located as to drop into depression 8, thereby firmly holding the sections 1 and 2 in their adjusted positions, as hereinafter described. Section 1 of the rod has a screw-thread 10 formed near its pointed end for the purpose of attaching the usual gun-wiper thereto when the device is used as a cleaning-rod andalso has a groove 11 formed in its under side and extending throughout its length, while section 2 has a rib 12 formed by cutting away a portion of the circumference of the rod, as will be best understood from aninspection of Figs. t and 6, the rib 12 being of such width as to Fig. 2 is a side elevation of fit snugly within the groove 11 and but slightly longer than said groove.

When the rod is in position on the gun and not in use either as a gun-rest or bayonet, it is held in position by a clasp 13 near the muzzle and a socket 14 in the stock. The construction of clasp 13 is shown in Fig. 4, from which it will be seen that while it clasps and securely holds section 1 it is open on the lower side, so as to permit the rib 12 to enter the groove 11 when the rod is folded for use as a bayonet.

The device is used as follows: When in a normal position on the gun, the rod rests with the joint within the clasp 13, and when a short gun-rest is required, as is the case when the gunner shoots from a recumbent position, the rod is drawn slightly forward, so as to withdraw the joint from the clasp 13, and section 1 is firm'ly grasped and forcibly pulled downward into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, the spring-catch yielding to permit this to be done and snapping into the corresponding depression 8 when section 1 has reached a position at right angles to section 2. Should a longer rest for firing from a kneeling position be desired, the rod is pulled forward till the point of section 2 is withdrawn from socket 14 and lowered, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the catch 9 yielding to permit this to be done and then snapping into the proper depression 8 to hold section 2 in the desired position. Should it be desired to use the device as a bayonet, section 2 is turned through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees, until the two parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 3, with the rib 12 firmly pressed into groove 11 and the catch 9 engaging the proper depression 8. Should further retaining means he desired, a simple ring or clasp 15 may be used to engage both the gun-barrel and section 2 of the rod.

It is to be distinctly understood that the particular kind of joint between the two sections of the rod and the particular means employed for securing the rod in place on the gun are not of the essence of my invention, as any desired form of joint or securing device 8 may be employed, provided the essentials of construction, as hereinafter specified in the claims, are present.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of a gun and a rod secured thereto, said rod being formed of a plurality of sections of unequal length, each of which is capable of being adjusted into position as a gun-rest, and means retaining said sections in their adjusted positions.

2. The combination of a gun, a rod detachably secured thereto, said rod being made up of two sections of unequal length, the longer section being capable of adjustment into alinement with the other section, at right angles therewith, or parallel thereto, and means secu ring said section in said positions, whereby said rod is capable of use as a ramrod, a gun-rest, or a bayonet.

3. The combination of a gun, with a ramrod divided into a plurality of sections of unequal length, one of which sections is capable of being placed in alinement with the remainder of the rod and also of being turned so as to lie parallel with the remainder of the rod and project beyond the muzzle of the gun as a bayonet, and means securing said rod to the gun and retaining the sections in said positions.

4. The combination of a gun, a jointed ramrod, means securing said rod to the gun, and retaining devices engaging one section of said rod when in a line perpendicular to the gunbarrel, whereby it may be used as a gun-rest, or when projecting horizontally beyond the muzzle of the barrel, whereby it may be used as a bayonet.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH WHEELER.

WVitnesses:

MAY PATTERSON, ARTHUR L. TOMES. 

